Class AAAA Playoff X-Factors: 1 Game Changer from Each Team

<p><strong><em>Get 30% Off Your Subscription with Code PRZWV30 at Checkout!</em></strong></p>   <p>The 2025 West Virginia high school football regular season has come to an end, and schools have learned their playoff fate. 64 teams will be moving on to the postseason across four classes with one goal on their mind: make it to Charleston. Here is one X-Factor player from each representative school in the playoffs. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#1 MORGANTOWN</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">To no surprise, Morgantown's X-Factor representative is none other than 2028 QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='923337' first='Maddox' last='Twigg']. He's what makes the Mohigans' offense go as a dual-threat quarterback with P4 athleticism. Twigg earned our spot on the National PRZ Breakout Player of the Year list from all 50 states and is having a huge sophomore campaign that's earned Morgantown the #1 seed in the playoffs. If the Mohigans want to make it to Charleston, they'll need Twigg to continue to showcase his high-level ability throughout the playoffs. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#2 HUNTINGTON </strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">2026 Huntington ATH [player_tooltip player_id='894642' first='Tayveon' last='Wilson'] continues to prove why he's considered the top prospect in our rankings this season for the Highlanders and why he's our choice as their X-Factor player. After a great season at receiver and linebacker as a junior in 2024, Wilson was pressed into action at quarterback this season and has led his team to the #2 seed and undefeated against WV competition. The Clemson TE commit is an obvious dual-threat at the position and has improved as a passer as the season has gone on. Wilson has thrown for over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns while also rushing for over 500 yards and 8 more scores as a versatile athlete who can do anything on the football field. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#3 MARTINSBURG</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">The Martinsburg Bulldogs always have a host of athletes to choose from and consider for our lone X-Factor spot, but 2027 QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='895900' first='Brian' last='Dick'] gets the nod. He's elevated his game from earlier in the season and is playing his best ball heading into the playoffs, a great sign for the Bulldogs to potentially repeat as state champions. The dual-threat quarterback is operating their offensive system like a veteran now after getting more experience throughout the season. Defenses will have to account for Dick in the passing and running game, where he's been dangerous all season for the Bulldogs and will have them in the championship hunt yet again in 2025. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#4 JEFFERSON</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">2026 Jefferson WR [player_tooltip player_id='1605206' first='Tony' last='Allen'] has been banged up for the Cougars in recent weeks, but if he's healthy for the playoffs, he's a special player who can change the outcome of games on his own. He's an electrifying player with blazing speed who's capable of going the distance any time the ball reaches his hands. The Cougars have a bevy of other athletes to utilize if Allen can't go, that's helped them close out the regular season with 6-straight wins, but he's the type of athlete that can push them to the semifinals. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#5 GEORGE WASHINGTON</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Freshman George Washington running back [player_tooltip player_id='1826125' first='Jaden' last='Black'] has been a great story for the Patriots this season, with a breakout first year of high school. Black has rushed for over 1,300 yards and 19 touchdowns with three more scores in the passing game to help his team to the #5 seed in the playoffs. They'll continue to lean on him for a push in the postseason, and Black has proven he has the durability to carry the load for a playoff run as our X-Factor selection for the Patriots. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#6 WHEELING PARK</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Wheeling Park's [player_tooltip player_id='1137687' first='Brennan' last='Wack'] has brushed off a midseason injury and has returned to form late in the regular season for the Patriots just in time for a potential playoff run. He's our obvious X-Factor as the defending Curt Warner Award winner as the state's top running back from a year ago. Wack will keep Wheeling Park in every game they play when he's healthy and has proved as much in last year's playoffs. He's a special talent for the Patriots and could break nearly every rushing record in school history with a good playoff run. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#7 UNIVERSITY</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">2027 University WR [player_tooltip player_id='1326514' first='Hayden' last='George'] has put himself in the Randy Moss Award conversation with an excellent junior season for the Hawks. He continues to elevate his game year after year and is excelling in their high-powered passing attack. George went over the 1,000-yard receiving mark at the end of the regular season and has caught 79 passes and 8 touchdowns in total. His play on defense as a defensive back shouldn't be overlooked either, with 16 PBUs and 5 interceptions. George plays the receiver position exactly how you'd want it to be executed in a spread offense, making him a perfect fit for University's X-Factor representative. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#8 SPRING MILLS</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Spring Mills hasn't had the season that many expected after finishing as runner-ups last year, but 2026 TE [player_tooltip player_id='894977' first='Xavier' last='Anderson'] continues to be as dangerous as any player in the state on both sides of the ball. The Cincinnati TE commit has the rare combination of size and athleticism in West Virginia that makes him a nightmare to cover and block. If the Cardinals can consistently create matchups for him in the passing game, he can single-handedly take over a game with the physical tools and ability that he possesses as our X-Factor pick for Spring Mills. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#9 MUSSELMAN</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">The Musselman Applemen are having a solid bounce-back year after a 1-10 campaign in 2024, and having 2026 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1139376' first='Colton' last='Shelton'] back in the fold this year is one of the biggest reasons why. There were several candidates for Musselman's X-Factor, but Shelton's playmaking ability can't be overlooked in their Wing-T system. You have to account for him as a runner and as a threat to pass at times. Shelton is an explosive athlete with good speed and quickness, which makes him dangerous in that system. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#10 PARKERSBURG </strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">The Parkersburg Big Reds' top playmaker is super sophomore WR [player_tooltip player_id='1077100' first='Brady' last='Thorn'], who represents our playoff X-Factor selection. He's earning serious D1 interest, making visits to some of the top college programs in the region, and could soon earn his first D1 opportunity. Thorn can take the top off the defense on go balls or utilize his route-running ability to move the chains. He's also dangerous after the catch and will make a big impact as a defensive back as well. If Parkersburg wants to earn a round one upset, they'll need Thorn to take over the game. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#11 WOODROW WILSON</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">There were several options for Woodrow Wilson's X-Factor pick, but you can't go wrong with 2026 WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1138996' first='AJ' last='Thomas']. He's been a multi-year standout for the Flying Eagles and has elevated his offensive game on top of his known defensive prowess as a senior. Thomas can change the momentum of a game in a hurry on both sides of the ball with a big play in the passing or running game, and he can create turnovers on defense. They're capable of pulling an upset in round one of the playoffs, but they'll need a big game from players like Thomas to do so.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#12 OAK HILL</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">If 2027 Oak Hill WR/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1306758' first='Carson' last='Treadway'] can get healthy for the playoffs, he's an easy pick for the Red Devils' X-Factor. He's another athlete who's capable of playing multiple positions on both sides of the ball and being a game-changer at each of them. Treadway has been a high-level playmaker at both receiver and running back during his career thus far, but he also had an incredible defensive game earlier this season, to the tune of 6.5 sacks in one game against Hurricane. Oak Hill will need Treadway in a big way if they want to pull the upset over a good George Washington team.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#13 WASHINGTON</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">It's been a tough year for the Washington Patriots in 2025 after building momentum last season, but there are still some playmakers to keep an eye on. That includes 2027 RB/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1161083' first='Phillip' last='Shields'], who was an easy pick for our Washington X-Factor. He's emerged as a standout running back this season for the Patriots and will likely be leaned on in their rematch against Jefferson. Shields is a plus athlete who we project as a defensive back prospect, but his play on offense this season could open some eyes as well for colleges. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#14 PARKERSBURG SOUTH</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">2026 Parkersburg South WR [player_tooltip player_id='894768' first='Taj' last='Joyce'] continues to be one of the top receivers in the state in his senior year for the Patriots. At 3-7 this year, the team may be overlooked heading into the playoffs, but Joyce is sure to be one of the top athletes on the field on Friday night against a talent-rich Martinsburg program. The Patriots may not find themselves victorious when the clock hits zero, but Martinsburg will have to account for Joyce every play with his size and playmaking ability. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#15 HEDGESVILLE</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Hedgesville has found something late in the season with a more run-focused offense, and that's in large part due to 2027 RB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1810530' first='Chris' last='Williams']. He's an explosive athlete who does a great job as a returner on special teams as well and is a threat to score any time he touches the ball. Williams follows his blocks well and has the burst to accelerate once he finds a crease for a big gain. The Eagles can build around this new scheme and the emergence of Williams for the future. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#16 BUCKHANNON-UPSHUR</strong></h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='618773' first='Dawson' last='Tenney']'s loyalty to Buckhannon-Upshur should be noted, and his performance against Preston pressed the Buccaneers into the playoffs for the first time since 2016. A smaller Class AAAA certainly allowed that to happen, but Tenney is deserving of being spotlighted for his play during his senior year and career as a whole as our X-Factor pick. He's rewritten the record book at Buckhannon-Upshur during his career and is an athlete capable of scholarship looks as a QB/ATH prospect. </p>

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